2019 California Rules of Court

Rule 3.816. Disqualification for conflict of interest

(a) Arbitrator's duty to disqualify himself or herself

The arbitrator must determine whether any cause exists for disqualification upon any of the grounds set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 170.1 governing the disqualification of judges. If any member of the arbitrator's law firm would be disqualified under subdivision (a)(2) of section 170.1, the arbitrator is disqualified. Unless the ground for disqualification is disclosed to the parties in writing and is expressly waived by all parties in writing, the arbitrator must promptly notify the administrator of any known ground for disqualification and another arbitrator must be selected as provided in rule 3.815.

In addition to any other disclosure required by law, no later than five days before the deadline for parties to file a motion for disqualification of the arbitrator under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 or, if the arbitrator is not aware of his or her appointment or of a matter subject to disclosure at that time, as soon as practicable thereafter, an arbitrator must disclose to the parties:

(1)Any matter subject to disclosure under subdivisions (D)(5)(a) and (D)(5)(b) of canon 6 of the Code of Judicial Ethics; and

(2)Any significant personal or professional relationship the arbitrator has or has had with a party, attorney, or law firm in the instant case, including the number and nature of any other proceedings in the past 24 months in which the arbitrator has been privately compensated by a party, attorney, law firm, or insurance company in the instant case for any services, including service as an attorney, expert witness, or consultant or as a judge, referee, arbitrator, mediator, settlement facilitator, or other alternative dispute resolution neutral.

On motion of any party, made as promptly as possible under Code of Civil Procedure sections 170.l and 1141.18(d) and before the conclusion of arbitration proceedings, the appointment of an arbitrator to a case must be vacated if the court finds that:

(1)The party has demanded that the arbitrator disqualify himself or herself;

(2)The arbitrator has failed to do so; and

(3)Any of the grounds specified in section 170.1 exists.

The ADR administrator must return the case to the top of the arbitration hearing list and appoint a new arbitrator. The disqualified arbitrator's name must be returned to the list of those available for selection to hear cases, unless the court orders that the circumstances of the disqualification be reviewed by the ADR administrator, the ADR committee, or the presiding judge for appropriate action.